And boss Wenger claimed: “If you look objectively at our season we have done better than anybody against the big teams... but we did not turn up when we felt we were less ­under pressure.

“I say to my players that our responsibility is to fight in ­every single match until the last minute of the season.”

Arsenal are hoping a win against Palace will put pressure on the Premier League’s top two – Leicester and Tottenham - but their slim hopes of winning a first championship in 12 years will ­surely vanish if they fail to beat Alan Pardew’s Eagles.

In pictures — West Ham score three in eight minutes to draw with Arsenal:

A new-look attacking ­quartet of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil has got some fans excited – but Arsenal’s defensive ­vulnerabilities were exposed again at West Ham last week when they allowed Andy Carroll to score a quickfire treble.

“We are an attacking side,” insisted Wenger. “I don’t think you can pretend to be a big club and say ‘we only want to ­defend’ – we have that responsibility and we have to stand up for that.”

Ex-Arsenal defender Sebastien Squillaci recently argued that his former team will always concede too many goals under the Frenchman because Wenger plays a brand of football which leaves the rearguard too open.

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But Wenger hit back: “We have to continue to develop the quality of our game. It doesn’t mean we have to change our style. It means we have to be better in the style we play.

“At West Ham, the fact that Carroll stayed on the pitch was absolutely scandalous. But ­nobody speaks about that.

“Of course, then, it’s easy to be physical. If you’re allowed absolutely everything on the football pitch. It’s easy to be physical – because you’re not punished.”

The Gunners are 13 points ­behind Leicester, with six matches left including a game in hand – and it looks like ­bitter rivals Spurs will ­finish above them for the first time in 21 years.

“If Tottenham get in front of us you have to respect they have won more points,” Wenger added. “But we are not there yet. I’ve said this many times.

“To be top London club is not the target at the start of the season. You want to win the league and do well in all the competitions but the derby means a lot and the position ­compared to Tottenham means a lot.”